N1.9bn Fraud scandal: Court slams N800m bail on Works Ministry officials

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, has fixed May 15, 2025, for the trial of former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, and a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, of the Department of Highways and Planning.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting both men on a three-count charge of diverting and misappropriating N1.94 billion meant for acquiring land titles for federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020.

At Thursday’s hearing, defence counsels J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms. However, prosecution counsel M.K. Hussein opposed the request, citing a counter-affidavit signed by EFCC investigator Njoku Ekelechi. He urged the court to deny bail or impose strict conditions to ensure the defendants’ attendance at trial.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted bail at N800 million each, with two Abuja-based civil servants as sureties. The sureties must undertake to produce the defendants in court as required. Additionally, the defendants must submit their passports for verification by the prosecution.

Olowoniyan, who is also facing trial in another N420 million fraud case, was granted separate bail of N400 million, with a similar surety requirement.

Both cases were adjourned to May 15, 2025, for trial.